The Polestar 3 is rated 96 MPGe (105 city, 87.5 highway) — that is not petrol economy but the distance it covers on 33.7 kWh, the energy held in one gallon. Drawn from a socket it needs 35.1 kWh per 100 miles, so 12,000 miles a year costs about $716 at $0.17 a kWh. The EPA's own annual figure for it is $800.
Every Polestar 3 version, compared
The Polestar 3 was rated in a single specification, so its consumption does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $0.17 a kilowatt-hour.
| Version | Combined MPGe | City / Highway | Years | Charging per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 105 / 87.5 | 2025–2026 | $716 |
What that actually costs
MPGe is an abstraction; the electricity bill is not. At 12,000 miles a year the Polestar 3 draws about 4212 kWh, which at $0.17 comes to the figures below.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Energy use | 35.1 kWh per 100 miles |
| Cost per mile | $0.060 |
| Charging per year | $716 |
| Charging over five years | $3,580 |
| Against other Electric cars | +$35 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $800 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Polestar 3 is one of the cars that does better in town than out of it — 105 in the city against 87.5 on the highway. That is $73 a year in favour of the commuter stuck in traffic, and it usually means a hybrid drivetrain recovering energy every time you brake.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 105 MPGe | $655 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 87.5 MPGe | $785 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | -17.5 MPGe (-17%) | Reversed — it does better in town than on the open road |
How the 3 changed over the years
The 3 peaked in 2026 at 97 MPGe (105 city, 89 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2025 at 95 — 2 MPGe apart, or $16 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 97.
| Model year | Combined MPGe | City / Highway | Versions offered | Charging per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 105 / 89 | 1 | $708 | |
| 2025 | 105 / 86 | 1 | $724 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 2 EPA ratings of the Polestar 3 — 1 engine across 2025–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $0.17 a kilowatt-hour, against EPA's own estimate of $800. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Polestar 3 rated at?
96 MPGe combined on average — 105 in the city and 87.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2025–2026. MPGe is distance covered on 33.7 kWh, the energy in a gallon of petrol — the car itself takes none.
How much does a Polestar 3 cost to charge per year?
About $716 at 12,000 miles and $0.17 a kilowatt-hour — roughly $3,580 over five years, or 0.060 dollars a mile.
Which 3 version is the most efficient?
The Electric at 96 MPGe.
Is the 3 efficient compared with similar cars?
Against other Electric cars it sits below the average of 101 MPGe, computed across 426 ratings.
Are these real-world 3 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Polestar 3 is $800 against the $716 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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